Chrysler›300›2012›3.0L/chrysler/300/2012/3-0l/

LX platform

2012 Chrysler 300 — 3.0L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 300 3.0L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.0L

The 2012 Chrysler 300 is a full-size passenger car built on the LX platform and powered by a 3.0L engine, representing a specific configuration within the model's 2004-2023 production span. This model year accumulated 424 total owner complaints against 9 associated recalls, with electrical system issues emerging as the most frequently reported concern. Relative to the complaint history, the 2012 falls well below the peak of 1,750 complaints logged in 2006 and represents a period of substantially improved owner satisfaction, suggesting meaningful quality refinement in the years following that earlier high point—though the persistent electrical complaints and nine recalls indicate that buyers should remain attentive to those specific systems when evaluating a used example.

Model year2013 2012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 04884899AC. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-65R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	04884899AC alt 68079744AD
Engine air filter	04861746AB
Spark plug	SPLZFR5C11 alt SP149125AF
Battery	BBH8A001AA alt BBH7F001AA
Front wiper blades	68194930AB alt 05182439AB
Thermostat	52028898AJ alt 05184894AA
Cabin air filter	68535614AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	198.8 in
Overall width	75.2 in
Overall height	58.7 in
Wheelbase	120.1 in
Curb weight	4513 lb
Track (front / rear)	64.2 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	54/46

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9763 · 75W-140 · MS-8985 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	9.5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9763 · 75W-140 · MS-8985
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.4 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 · MS-9763 · 75W-140 · MS-8985

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug

25.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	17.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50-1.63 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	730 cca

Service checks

Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	98 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	44 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	44 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	98 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 6,000 mi; spark plugs every 96,000 mi.

Every 6,000 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 12,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 16,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 24,000 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust)
Every 32,000 mi	Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 48,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 90,000 mi	PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 96,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Chrysler 300 sits at a pronounced peak in the model's modern federal record: its 424 complaints represent the highest annual total since 2008, and its nine recalls are the most of any year in the dataset. Complaints jumped sharply from 2011's 200 and remained elevated through 2013 (306) and 2014 (236) before declining steadily after 2015, placing 2012 at the apex of a multi-year uptick that began with the 2011 redesign. Technical service bulletins also surged to 261 in 2012, well above the 177 in 2011, though TSB volumes continued climbing in later years even as complaints fell. The leading complaint category was Electrical System (126), followed by Air Bags (48) and Power Train (42), with 24 crash-related and 34 fire-related complaints recorded — figures the data does not specify root causes for. Compared to the relatively quiet 2009–2010 period and the improving trajectory post-2015, 2012 stands out as a high-water mark for both owner-reported problems and manufacturer corrective actions. For a buyer, this year carries the highest documented regulatory and complaint burden of the generation's second half and warrants extra scrutiny on electrical and restraint systems before purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

261

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

424

Owner complaints

24 involved a crash · 34 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11’12’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 424 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System126

Air Bags48

Power Train42

Engine16

Unknown Or Other14

Steering13

Electrical System,Air Bags9

Fuel/Propulsion System9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V018000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 15/01/2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2010 Dodge Ram 3500, Ram 4500/5500, 2010-2011 Dodge Dakota, 2010-2014 Dodge Challenger, 2010-2015 Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300, and 2010-2016 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Upon… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator…

17V435000Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/RegulatorReported 10/07/2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, Dodge Durango, and 2012-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The affected vehicles have electro-hydraulic… Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and depending on the part number, will replace the alternator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 261 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
34D Combo Rev1	2026-05-14	Air Bags	Customer Satisfaction Notification 34D - Healthy Airbag Inflator Collection - Dealer…
34D Combo	2026-04-21	Air Bags	Customer Satisfaction Notification 34D - Healthy Airbag Inflator Collection - Dealer…
S2621000003 REV.A	2026-03-09	Power Train	The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the…
108463	2025-11-18	Service Brakes	PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
108464	2025-11-17	Service Brakes	PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 300. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 94R battery LX-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 04884899AC Engine air filter 04861746AB Spark plug SPLZFR5C11 Battery BBH8A001AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.